tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35703220.post4095807134722816812..comments2023-07-12T03:51:05.601-07:00Comments on Lookin At Cookin - The Blog: Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08092574925356576780noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35703220.post-14993207174327083902009-02-11T12:11:00.000-08:002009-02-11T12:11:00.000-08:00I agree that free-range is not as great as it soun...I agree that free-range is not as great as it sounds for turkeys and chickens that end up killed for meat. However, I don't agree that the limited access outdoor increases stress - it is designed to decrease stress by offering physical and psychological enrichment that is not offered inside the facility. Enrichment actually decreases stress - even a limited access outdoors allows the birds to express a bit of their natural behavioral repertoire, which is impossible indoors. The stress inside is insurmountable because the birds are so crowded they cannot establish a normal pecking order and many end up dead from overpecking injuries. Unfortunately, instead of reducing density, factory farmers cut off the beaks of the birds. Some starve to death because the debeaking melts their beaks closed.<BR/><BR/>Free-range does make a bigger difference to birds raised to lay eggs. Cages are stuffed with birds so they can't spread their wings or turn around. Free-range eggs puts the birds in the same conditions as those raised for meat - with the same problems as above, but better than the cages.Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13090494537687390288noreply@blogger.com